As I sat there, munching on popcorn and watching hundreds of adorable cat videos unfold before my eyes, I couldn’t help but feel a deep admiration for Will Braden – the man who made this dream a reality. Here is a person who has managed to turn his passion for cats into a full-time job, one that brings joy to people and raises funds for animal shelters.
Despite not being particularly fond of cats, here I am, still recovering from last night’s hangover on a Saturday morning, indulging in popcorn while watching an endless stream of feline videos on one of New York’s best screens at its finest cinema.
Experience the joy at the annual Cat Video Fest, not just a festival but a unique 73-minute collection of cat videos sourced globally and showcased in over a hundred cinemas across the U.S. and Canada. This event has been expanding for several years now. In 2024, held on August 3rd and 4th, it generated an impressive $280,000, more than doubling its earnings from the previous year and donating almost $30,000 to local animal shelters and welfare groups. The film’s popularity has led many of its cinema partners, such as Manhattan’s IFC Center, to extend their screening dates.
The Cat Video Festival is overseen by Will Braden, who previously collaborated with the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis to organize the event before assuming full control in 2016. Since then, Braden has been running the festival independently. He divides his time evenly into three parts: one-third of the year is spent gathering video clips, obtaining permission from content creators, and managing the videos on an Excel spreadsheet; another third is dedicated to editing the footage together; and the remaining third involves working with distributor Oscilloscope Labs, handling press matters, and other coordination tasks.
“Braden shares with EbMaster that his primary occupation is what’s written on his business cards – watching cat videos. However, he also mentions that his wife, who teaches first grade in a public school, earns slightly more than him annually.”
Braden completed his studies at the Seattle Film Institute back in 2006, and one of his own short film series titled “Henri,” featuring a “melancholic French feline philosopher,” is featured in this year’s selection. With a chuckle, he shares, “I never imagined this path when I was in film school, certainly not aiming to be the next Martin Scorsese. If my work brings laughter and helps support cats in need, then I’ll consider myself blessed with the most rewarding job imaginable for as long as I desire it.”
As a cat lover, I can’t help but rave about Cat Video Fest! It delivers exactly what you’d expect: 73 minutes of uninterrupted cat videos. It’s like stepping back in time to the golden era of YouTube or peeking into your grandmother’s Facebook feed. Essentially, it’s I Can Has Cheezburger? brought to life on the big screen! There’s no overarching storyline or consistency between the clips. Some are shot in portrait mode while others fill the entire screen. Some have captions and emojis scattered everywhere, while others were recorded with a toaster, as we used to say back in the day.
There are various types of cats: grumpy ones, feisty ones, helpful ones, and cuddly ones. Cats playing piano, cats annoying dogs, cats leaping from rocks accompanied by the audio from the parkour scene in “The Office.” Cats nursing set to Stewie from “Family Guy” repeating, “Mom, mommy, mama.” Cats climbing walls synced with a remix of “Spider Pig’s” tune from “The Simpsons Movie” in 2007.
Each year, I meticulously scour and handpick an impressive collection of around 200 cat videos from various sources, ranging from student films to footage shot overseas, some of which aren’t even available online yet. As a dedicated film enthusiast who has watched roughly 15,000 cat videos, I guarantee an unparalleled cinematic experience that will pull you out of bed and straight into the theaters. Not only will this be a visually stunning event, but it’s also a unique opportunity to support local shelters, as watching cat videos at home doesn’t typically contribute to their funding.
One enjoyable aspect of Cat Video Fest is the joyful giggles of children, reverberating through the IFC Center and melting even the hearts of those indifferent to cats. Meanwhile, as vice presidential candidate JD Vance alleges that cat-loving childless women are damaging America, it was invigorating to be immersed among so many cat enthusiasts enjoying themselves at the cinema.
When I bring up the topic of Vance, Braden lets out a deep breath. “His remarks often reflect an old-fashioned perspective not only towards cat ladies but also anyone who appreciates various things,” he explains. “What’s wonderful about Cat Video Fest is that it’s challenging to be surrounded by hundreds of people in a theater, giggling and having fun, without feeling embarrassed. It’s almost impossible.”
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2024-08-06 22:16